Cycling Started
- Thread starter buballo
- Start date
Okay, this is gonna be a bit embarressing ...but...I did not read the instructions to the ammonia test properly. That is because and only because I am an idiot. Now there are 2 test bottles not the 1 in the API master kit. Please read the statement above...I am an idiot. The bad news is I have let everyone on the forum know how stupid I am. The absolutely great news is my ammonia level is detectable at somewhere between 0.5 and 1. I think at a guess I would say 0.75. So the prawn is producing ammonia.
So as a precautionary measure I decided to test nitrites...and yes i read the instructions and there is only 1 bottle to use. Surprisingly there was a very slight hint that nitrites were also forming. By the colour I would say under the 0.25 mark.
Since I tested all that. I tested the nitrates as well.
So In summary after 24 hours we have:
Ammonia 0.75
Nitrites 0.15
Nitrates 0.00
Will test again in 12 to 24 hours.
So as a precautionary measure I decided to test nitrites...and yes i read the instructions and there is only 1 bottle to use. Surprisingly there was a very slight hint that nitrites were also forming. By the colour I would say under the 0.25 mark.
Since I tested all that. I tested the nitrates as well.
So In summary after 24 hours we have:
Ammonia 0.75
Nitrites 0.15
Nitrates 0.00
Will test again in 12 to 24 hours.
everyone screws up.... it happens. do you have nitrites in your water? most of the time it takes week for nitrites to show up.
I was surprised as well. It seems there was a very small trace of nitrites. It could be the the colour chart is slightly different to reality and gives the perception of nitrites. Who knows. I think after tonight I will test once every 24 hours. If there is no significant change tonight I will throw in another prawn.
Ok...chucked in another prawn last night and tested this morning. Ammonia was above 1 somewhere. The bad news though is the smell is horrible. My wife wants it gone. Might not be able to see this through. Might have to resort to a fishy cycle (although I really did not want to). I dont thisnk I have any options though.
Ok...so I am doing the fishy c ycle at the moment. I really tried not to but all my options were exhausted and the prawn smell was disgusting. I have just done a 20 % water change and my PH sky rocketed to above 7 I would say around 7.4, Should I be worried...what should I do?
